2013 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 33 - Corporations, Partnerships and Associations
CHAPTER 31 - SOUTH CAROLINA NONPROFIT CORPORATION ACT

ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

• SECTION 33-31-101. Short title.
• SECTION 33-31-102. Reservation of power to amend or repeal.
• SECTION 33-31-120. Filing requirements.
• SECTION 33-31-121. Forms.
• SECTION 33-31-122. Filing, service, and copying fees.
• SECTION 33-31-123. Effective date of document.
• SECTION 33-31-124. Correcting filed document.
• SECTION 33-31-125. Filing duty of the Secretary of State.
• SECTION 33-31-126. Appeal from Secretary of State's refusal to file document.
• SECTION 33-31-127. Evidentiary effect of copy of filed document.
• SECTION 33-31-128. Certificate of existence.
• SECTION 33-31-129. Penalty for signing false document.
• SECTION 33-31-130. Powers.
• SECTION 33-31-140. Definitions.
• SECTION 33-31-141. Notice.
• SECTION 33-31-150. Private foundations.
• SECTION 33-31-151. Express amendment excluding application of Section 33-31-150.
• SECTION 33-31-152. Rights of State are not impaired.
• SECTION 33-31-155. Authority to dispose of assets from a dissolved nonprofit corporation or eleemosynary organization.
• SECTION 33-31-160. Judicial relief.
• SECTION 33-31-170. Attorney General.
• SECTION 33-31-171. Investigation by Attorney General authorized.
• SECTION 33-31-172. Requesting permission to make examinations.
• SECTION 33-31-173. Use of information is restricted.
• SECTION 33-31-174. Forfeiture of right to operate for refusing examination.
• SECTION 33-31-175. Provisions are cumulative.
• SECTION 33-31-180. Religious corporations; Constitutional protections.

ARTICLE 2. INCORPORATION

• SECTION 33-31-201. Incorporators.
• SECTION 33-31-202. Articles of incorporation.
• SECTION 33-31-203. Incorporation.
• SECTION 33-31-204. Liability for preincorporation transactions.
• SECTION 33-31-205. Organization of corporation.
• SECTION 33-31-206. Bylaws.
• SECTION 33-31-207. Emergency bylaws and powers.

ARTICLE 3. PURPOSES

• SECTION 33-31-301. Purposes.
• SECTION 33-31-302. General powers.
• SECTION 33-31-303. Emergency powers.
• SECTION 33-31-304. Ultra vires.
• SECTION 33-31-305. Powers of corporations created by legislative authority before 1900.

ARTICLE 4. NAMES

• SECTION 33-31-401. Corporate name.
• SECTION 33-31-402. Reserved name.
• SECTION 33-31-403. Registered name of a foreign corporation.
• SECTION 33-31-404. Name change filing requirement when real property owned.

ARTICLE 5. OFFICE AND AGENTS

• SECTION 33-31-501. Registered office and registered agent.
• SECTION 33-31-502. Change of registered office or registered agent.
• SECTION 33-31-503. Resignation of registered agent.
• SECTION 33-31-504. Service on corporation.
• SECTION 33-31-505. Notice of Change of Principal Office.

ARTICLE 6. MEMBERS AND MEMBERSHIPS SUBARTICLE A. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS

• SECTION 33-31-601. Admission.
• SECTION 33-31-602. Consideration.
• SECTION 33-31-603. No requirement of members.

SUBARTICLE B. TYPES OF MEMBERSHIPS - MEMBERS' RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

• SECTION 33-31-610. Differences in rights and obligations of members.
• SECTION 33-31-611. Transfers.
• SECTION 33-31-612. Member's liability to third parties.

SUBARTICLE C. RESIGNATION AND TERMINATION

• SECTION 33-31-620. Resignation.
• SECTION 33-31-621. Termination, expulsion, and suspension.
• SECTION 33-31-622. Purchase of memberships.

SUBARTICLE D. DERIVATIVE SUITS

• SECTION 33-31-630. Derivative suits.

SUBARTICLE E. DELEGATES

• SECTION 33-31-640. Delegates.

ARTICLE 7. MEMBERS MEETINGS AND VOTING SUBARTICLE A. MEETINGS AND ACTION WITHOUT MEETINGS

• SECTION 33-31-701. Annual and regular meetings.
• SECTION 33-31-702. Special meetings.
• SECTION 33-31-703. Court-ordered meeting.
• SECTION 33-31-704. Action by written consent.
• SECTION 33-31-705. Notice of meeting.
• SECTION 33-31-706. Waiver of notice.
• SECTION 33-31-707. Record date; determining members entitled to notice and vote.
• SECTION 33-31-708. Action by written or electronic ballot.

SUBARTICLE B. VOTING

• SECTION 33-31-720. Members' list for voting.
• SECTION 33-31-721. Voting entitlement generally.
• SECTION 33-31-722. Quorum requirements.
• SECTION 33-31-723. Voting requirements.
• SECTION 33-31-724. Proxies.
• SECTION 33-31-725. Cumulative voting for directors.
• SECTION 33-31-726. Other methods of electing directors.
• SECTION 33-31-727. Corporation's acceptance of votes.

SUBARTICLE C. VOTING AGREEMENTS

• SECTION 33-31-730. Voting agreements.

ARTICLE 8. DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS SUBARTICLE A. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• SECTION 33-31-801. Requirement for and duties of board.
• SECTION 33-31-802. Qualifications of directors.
• SECTION 33-31-803. Number of directors.
• SECTION 33-31-804. Election, designation, and appointment of directors.
• SECTION 33-31-805. Terms of directors generally.
• SECTION 33-31-806. Staggered terms for directors.
• SECTION 33-31-807. Resignation of directors.
• SECTION 33-31-808. Removal of directors elected by members or directors.
• SECTION 33-31-809. Removal of designated or appointed directors.
• SECTION 33-31-810. Removal of directors by judicial proceeding.
• SECTION 33-31-811. Vacancy on board.
• SECTION 33-31-812. Compensation of directors.

SUBARTICLE B. MEETINGS AND ACTION OF THE BOARD

• SECTION 33-31-820. Regular and special meetings.
• SECTION 33-31-821. Action without meeting.
• SECTION 33-31-822. Call and notice of meetings.
• SECTION 33-31-823. Waiver of notice.
• SECTION 33-31-824. Quorum and voting.
• SECTION 33-31-825. Committees.

SUBARTICLE C. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

• SECTION 33-31-830. General standards for directors.
• SECTION 33-31-831. Director conflict of interest.
• SECTION 33-31-832. Loans or guarantees for directors and officers.
• SECTION 33-31-833. Liability for unlawful distributions.
• SECTION 33-31-834. Immunity from suit.

SUBARTICLE D. OFFICERS

• SECTION 33-31-840. Required officers.
• SECTION 33-31-841. Duties and authority of officers.
• SECTION 33-31-842. Standards of conduct for officers.
• SECTION 33-31-843. Resignation and removal of officers.
• SECTION 33-31-844. Contract rights of officers.

SUBARTICLE E. INDEMNIFICATION

• SECTION 33-31-850. Definitions.
• SECTION 33-31-851. Authority to indemnify.
• SECTION 33-31-852. Mandatory indemnification.
• SECTION 33-31-853. Advances for expenses.
• SECTION 33-31-854. Court-ordered indemnification.
• SECTION 33-31-855. Determination and authorization of indemnification.
• SECTION 33-31-856. Indemnification of officers, employees, and agents.
• SECTION 33-31-857. Insurance.
• SECTION 33-31-858. Application of article.

ARTICLE 10. AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES

• SECTION 33-31-1001. Authority to amend articles of incorporation.
• SECTION 33-31-1002. Amendment of articles by directors.
• SECTION 33-31-1003. Amendment of articles by directors and members.
• SECTION 33-31-1004. Class voting by members on amendments.
• SECTION 33-31-1005. Articles of amendment.
• SECTION 33-31-1006. Restated articles of incorporation.
• SECTION 33-31-1007. Amendment pursuant to judicial reorganization.
• SECTION 33-31-1008. Effect of amendment and restatement.
• SECTION 33-31-1020. Amendment of bylaws by directors.
• SECTION 33-31-1021. Amendment of the bylaws by directors and members.
• SECTION 33-31-1022. Class voting on bylaw amendment by members.
• SECTION 33-31-1023. Bylaw increasing quorum or voting requirement for members.
• SECTION 33-31-1024. Bylaw increasing quorum or voting requirement for directors.
• SECTION 33-31-1030. Approval of the articles of incorporation and bylaws by third persons.
• SECTION 33-31-1031. Amendment terminating members or redeeming or canceling memberships.

ARTICLE 11. MERGER

• SECTION 33-31-1101. Approval of plan of merger.
• SECTION 33-31-1102. Limitations on mergers by public benefit or religious corporations.
• SECTION 33-31-1103. Action on plan by board, members, and third persons.
• SECTION 33-31-1104. Articles of merger.
• SECTION 33-31-1105. Effect of merger.
• SECTION 33-31-1106. Merger with foreign corporation.
• SECTION 33-31-1107. Bequests, devises, and gifts not affected by merger.

ARTICLE 12. SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS

• SECTION 33-31-1201. Sale of assets in regular course of activities and mortgage of assets.
• SECTION 33-31-1202. Sale of assets other than in regular course of activities.

ARTICLE 13. PROHIBITED DISTRIBUTIONS

• SECTION 33-31-1301. Prohibited distributions.
• SECTION 33-31-1302. Authorized distributions.

ARTICLE 14. DISSOLUTION

• SECTION 33-31-1401. Dissolution by incorporators.
• SECTION 33-31-1402. Dissolution by directors, members, and third persons.
• SECTION 33-31-1403. Notices to the Attorney General.
• SECTION 33-31-1404. Articles of dissolution.
• SECTION 33-31-1405. Revocation of dissolution.
• SECTION 33-31-1406. Effect of dissolution.
• SECTION 33-31-1407. Known claims against dissolved corporation.
• SECTION 33-31-1408. Unknown claims against dissolved corporation.
• SECTION 33-31-1420. Grounds for administrative dissolution.
• SECTION 33-31-1421. Procedure for and effect of administrative dissolution.
• SECTION 33-31-1422. Reinstatement following administrative dissolution.
• SECTION 33-31-1423. Appeal from denial of reinstatement.
• SECTION 33-31-1430. Grounds for judicial dissolution.
• SECTION 33-31-1431. Procedure for judicial dissolution.
• SECTION 33-31-1432. Receivership or custodianship.
• SECTION 33-31-1433. Decree of dissolution.
• SECTION 33-31-1440. Deposit with Department of Revenue and Taxation.

ARTICLE 15. FOREIGN CORPORATIONS

• SECTION 33-31-1501. Authority to transact business required.
• SECTION 33-31-1502. Consequences of transacting business without authority.
• SECTION 33-31-1503. Application for certificate of authority.
• SECTION 33-31-1504. Amended certificate of authority.
• SECTION 33-31-1505. Effect of certificate of authority.
• SECTION 33-31-1506. Corporate name of foreign corporation.
• SECTION 33-31-1507. Registered office and registered agent of foreign corporation.
• SECTION 33-31-1508. Change of registered office or registered agent of foreign corporation.
• SECTION 33-31-1509. Resignation of registered agent of foreign corporation.
• SECTION 33-31-1510. Service on foreign corporations.
• SECTION 33-31-1515. Notice of change of principal office.
• SECTION 33-31-1520. Withdrawal of foreign corporation.
• SECTION 33-31-1530. Grounds for revoking a foreign corporation's authority to transact business in this State.
• SECTION 33-31-1531. Procedure and effect of revocation.
• SECTION 33-31-1532. Appeal from revocation.

ARTICLE 16. RECORDS AND REPORTS SUBARTICLE A. . RECORDS

• SECTION 33-31-1601. Corporate records.
• SECTION 33-31-1602. Inspection of records by members.
• SECTION 33-31-1603. Scope of inspection rights.
• SECTION 33-31-1604. Court-ordered inspection.
• SECTION 33-31-1605. Limitations on use of membership list.

SUBARTICLE B. . REPORTS

• SECTION 33-31-1620. Financial statements for members.
• SECTION 33-31-1621. Report of indemnification to members.

ARTICLE 17. MISCELLANEOUS

• SECTION 33-31-1701. Application to Existing Domestic Corporations.
• SECTION 33-31-1702. Application to Qualified Foreign Corporations.
• SECTION 33-31-1703. Saving Provisions.
• SECTION 33-31-1704. Severability.
• SECTION 33-31-1705. Effective Date.
• SECTION 33-31-1706. Public Benefit, Mutual Benefit, and Religious Corporations.
• SECTION 33-31-1707. Existing domestic and foreign corporations required to file "Notification by Existing Corporation" form.
• SECTION 33-31-1708. Provisions not applicable.